My favourite for sure. Although I’d happily read a shopping list if he’d written it.

I really enjoyed my studies overall (about 65-35 chuffed with the course) It did help me grow my craft and understanding. It was brilliant to spend time with a group people who also care for the form I love, and I would do it again. The caveats mentioned already are just there as flags to notice.

… the lessons I learnt into long form. That may be a me issue, but I think that’s the warning I’d offer to anyone interested in creative writing degree studies. If you wanna complete a manuscript, these course may slow that process down as you’ll have to squeeze your ideas into smaller boxes.

… push on with that. I write fiction mostly, even if it’s sometimes based on experience, and the course helped me develop my personal style a great deal but, and it’s a big but (which I love and cannot deny), the word counts do lead you towards the short form. I’ve found it tough to map…

… many things to say that you might learn from. It’s up to you to spot these and take them onboard. The spread of disciplines (screenplay/plays/fiction or non, poetry or prose etc) is great if you’re unsure of your direction, but a little frustrating if you are sure and want to…

… what you need from such a huge and amorphous body as literature. I got lucky on a couple of fronts there at birkbeck, not so lucky with some others. As a student I think you have to be aware that an artist (of any kind) is not necessarily a good teacher, but they will still have…